Photo: "We have to support LGBTI people as human beings, people need to understand them and respect them"
Matofu and Suphi’s story had a happy ending but, around the world, millions of LGBT people face persecution, violence and even death, because of who they are and who they love".
We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Radio 4 listeners for their generous support. You’ve raised £13,212 in Frontline AIDS’ first ever public appeal. This money will go directly to our Rapid Response Fund, which supports lesbian, gay, transsexual and bisexual (LGBT) people facing urgent crises in 30 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean.
In our appeal, Simon Callow told the story of Suphi, a young Ugandan boy who was beaten, tortured and almost buried alive simply because his father, Matofu, is gay. Following months of sustained violence at the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi, Matofu and Suphi fled and were eventually connected with Frontline AIDS’ Rapid Response Fund via a local charity. Thanks to donors like you, Matofu and Suphi reached a safe house until their asylum application to Canada was approved. Since moving to Canada, the pair have flourished. Matofu has trained to become a security guard and Suphi hopes to become a doctor. In 70 countries, homosexuality remains a crime and a taboo which drives this discrimination.
This pushes LGBT people underground, increasing stigma and reducing access to HIV prevention and treatment services, increasing the likelihood that they will acquire HIV or become unwell because of the virus. Through the Rapid Response Fund, we provide small grants to keep LGBT people safe and provide them with food and access to any medicines they need.
With your help in the last month alone a gay man who was about to be kidnapped was able to find refuge in a safe home, a transgender woman who was beaten is recovering safely in a hospital, a clinic that did not have HIV medication was stocked and kept open.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our appeal – your support is invaluable.
To find out more about our work, please visit our .